Lescluse



OR 99mm mom- .JERs,

(No Model.)

0. J. DELESOLUSE.

PROCESS OF BLEACHING COTTON.

No. 499,184. Patented June 6,1898.

OOOOOOOOOO oooooooooo U o o o o o o o o o o o o o 0 o o o o o o o o o o o o o o o o UNITED STATES PATENT OFFICE.

CARLOS JOSEPH DELESCLUSE, OF MAROMME, FRANCE, ASSIGNOR TO THE SOCIETY O. DELESCLUSE & COMPANY, OF SAME PLACE.

PROCESS OF BLEACHING COTTON.

SPECIFICATION forming part of Letters Patent No. 499,184, dated June 6, 1893.

Application filed April 28, 1892. Serial No. 430,948. (No specimens.) Patented in France April 6, 1892, No. 220,722.

. To all whom it may concern:

Be it known that I, CARLOS JOSEPH DE- LESCLUSE, a citizen of the Republic of France, residing in Maromme, (Seine Infrieure,) France, have invented certain new and useful Improvements in the Bleaching of Cotton, (which invention is the subject-matter of Letters Patent in France, No. 220,722, dated April (ti ,1S92),of which the following is a specificaion.

This invention relates to the process of bleaching cotton and to compositions therefor, and comprises an improved process for bleaching cotton, and improved compositions especially applicable in carrying out the improved process.

The various processes heretofore used for bleaching cotton have all been based on the necessity of previously scalding the cotton in abath of soda, potash or soap; but even with this preparatory treatment it has not hitherto beenpossible to obtain a satisfactory result with the system of bleaching by means of a pressure or vacuum. Generally the cotton thus treated losesmuch of its origin alstrength, and instead of being white, appears dull and yellowish. It also is impossible to entirely remove the chlorine subsequently used in the bleaching operation, and that which remains impedes the subsequent formation of finished shades in the cotton, and is prejudicial to the preservation and strength of the cotton and fabrics made from it. My improved process aims to overcome these disadvantages, and my improved composition aims to facilitate the bleaching of cotton, especially when used according to my improved process.

To this end, my invention in its preferred form comprises, a modification in the process of and in the chemical treatment incident to the process of bleaching cotton, either as raw cotton or as cotton in slivers.

I will first describe my improved process for bleaching cotton, and the preferred method of and ingredients for carrying it out.

According to my invention, I dispense with the preliminary scalding operation to which the cotton to be bleached has heretofore been subjected, and I add to the usual chlorid 5o bath, an acid solution made viscous by the addition of a glutinative substance. The cotton is treated in this bath for bleaching it. I prefer to prepare such solution of the following ingredients in the following proprotions: I take as a glutinative preferably grape sugar or gum arabic, and as an acid preferably commercial sulphuric acid, using water as a diluter therefor. Bypreference, I add to the grape sugar or gum arabicten per centum of commercial sulphuric acid, and then dilute the mixture thus obtained in twenty times its weight of water. Of the resulting solution, I preferably add one hundred liters to three thousand liters of the chlorid bath. The chlorid bath when thus treated is introduced into any bleaching vat, in which are arranged the thread-bobbins or pirns, or the skeins or raw cotton and slivers to be bleached, which has not been subjected to any previous scalding, or to treatment by soda or potash. The liquid is caused in any well known manner, either by being sucked by vacuum or driven by pressure, to penetrate into the textile matter. The liquid effects the bleaching of the cotton, and, through the intervention of the acid solution, the action of the chlorine produces a perfect discoloration without weakening or injuring the filaments of the cotton, or impairing the quality of the raw cotton or its soft feeling. On the contrary, the quality of the raw cotton and its soft feeling are preserved during this treatment.

The object of the grape sugar or other glutinative substance is to serve as a vehicle for the chemical agents, and to attenuate the corrosive action of the acid, while the acid facilitates the disengagement and escape of the excess of chlorine.

It will be seen that my invention provides an improved process for bleaching cotton which avoids the necessity of treatment with soda or potash, and which avoids scalding, which is simple and economical of utilization, and that by means of it the cotton can be bleached thoroughly and without destroying its original strength, orthe quality of the raw cotton or its soft feeling.

It will be understood that I do not limitmyself to the precise ingredients nor proportions hereinbefore specified, as a ziyequii'alent reagents may be substituted for those named, and the proportions maybe varied as circumstances or the judgment of those skilled in the art may dictate.

I will now describe one form of a p....;tus for bleaching cotton in carrying out my said process, referring to the accompanying drawings, in which- Figure 1 is an axial section of a bobbin or pirn of cotton showing its spindle in elevation. Fig. 2 is a plan view thereof. Fig. 3 is a vertical longitudinal section of a box for holding the bobbins during bleaching. Fig. 4 is a plan view thereof with the cover removed, some of the bobbins being shown in position. Fig. 5 is a plan view of the basket of a hydro-extractor; and Fig. 6 is a vertical section of a cotton holding box especially adapted for use in bleaching cotton in slivers.

Referring to the drawings, let A indicate the bobbin, which is wound on a conical paper tube B, a the spindle therefor, which is a pyramidal rod passed through the conical tube B in such manner that its corners embrace the interior of the latter with a sufiicieut frictional contact to normally prevent its displacement.

12 represents a washer on the end of the spindle a for permitting its easy removal, both being preferably formed of celluloid or other material capable of resisting the action of chlorine and acids.

0 represents a ox, preferably of rectangular shape, and a cover for closing it, both beh g madt ofacellploid or other material capable of resisting the action of chlorine and of acids,-and both being perforated. preferably in a regular manner, whereby outlets and inlets are formed for the chlorid liquid, which enters from all directions and penetrates regularly into the mass of cotton to be bleached, which is held in the box in the form of bobbins, pirns, or otherwise.

Let 0 indicate the basket of a hydro-extractor, and D partitions extending by preference radially and dividing the basket into compartments adapted to receive the boxes 0.

Let 0 indicate a cylindrical box corresponding to 0, but particularly adapted to contain cotton in the form of skeins, slivers or slubs, and (1' its cover, preferably constructed with re-entering edges for connecting it to the box.

In operation, the cotton is placed within the boxes, treated to the bleaching bath, and after being thoroughly penetrated by the latter, the boxes are transferred each to a coinpartment of the hydro-extractor (3, during the operation of which they are prevented from violently tossing about, by being confined each a lflllll its particular compartment of the hydro-extractor. The end of each of the spindles a beyond its washer b, is adapted to enter and fit one of the perforations in the sides of the box 0, whereby the bobbins can be arranged and sustained therein as shown in Fig. 4, and will be maintained in this position during the bleaching operation, during removal therefrom, and while in the hydroextractor. By this arrangement much manipulation is saved, and all contact which could deform or deteriorate the bobbins, or injure the white color of the cotton, is avoided.

\Vhat I claim is, in the process of bleaching cotton and composition therefor, the following-defined novel features and combinations, substantially as hereinbefore set forth, namely:

1. A bath for bleaching cotton, consisting of a chlorid solution to which has been added a viscous acid solution composed of a glutinative substance and an acid.

2. A bath for bleaching cotton, consisting of a chlorid solution to which has been added a viscous acid solution composed of twenty parts by weight of water and one part by weight of a mixture consisting of about ninety per cent. of grape sugar, and about ten per cent. of sulphuric acid.

3. The improved process of bleaching cotton which consists in subjecting raw cotton to a bleaching bath consisting of a chlorid liquid to which has been added aviscous acid solution.

4. The improved process of bleaching cotton which consists in treating raw cotton in a bath composed of a chlorid solution, water, grape sugar and snlph ufi'cfia'cid in substantially the proportions specified, and subsequently drying said cot-ton.

In witness whereof I have hereunto signed my name in the presence of two subscribing \Vitnesses:

E. LUISEB, E. CoLLnRsLLEF. 

